$1500 spent on a beat up '95 was such a good experience that..

[helipilot]

I just took delivery of a new 2011 Ranger.

My old 95 (puchased in 2007 for $1500) had about 200,000 miles on it...it gave me another 80,000 and cost a grand total of $17.00 in parts (starter brushes).
I had my heart set on either a new Nissan Frontier or a Toyota Tacoma....but the longer my 95 B-2300 soldiered on..the more I fell in love with the Ranger series...
Tough, simple and less than $16,000 Canadian brand new.....it has no equal.

While lacking in the sophistication and amenities of it's Japanese competitors....I was specifically looking for simplicity...hell..my kids had to ask how to use the hand-crank windows!

It was impossible to find exactly what I wanted at a dealer....they all stock the higher profit margin V-6's...and I hate V6's! (just why would you put a big engine in a little truck anyways?? ...)
I wanted the 2.3L with Air and 5sp and in an Extra-Cab body....so in late August I placed my order from the factory before the line shut down for good..
The order was sent about a week before FoMoCo cut off factory orders to Canada and in late Oct, I received my new charcoal grey, extra-cab, 5sp, 4 cyl Ranger....Sweet!

I have some issue with how it arrived (without jump-seats and with 4.10 gearing....and I hope I can find some answers here.

Looking forward to reading and posting and mostly enjoying my little 2011 Ranger...
Nice Job Ford.....I think your making a big mistake in canceling Ranger production..

 

[Earl43P]

In my opinion, 4.10 gears are perfect for these little trucks with the 4 cylinder.

If it doesn't suit you, install taller tires when the OEMs wear out.
I assume it came with 15" wheels.
I'm running 235/65-16s on mine.


Enjoy your new ride and welcome to The Ranger station1

 

[helipilot]

Thanks Earl...
The 4.10 gears do work fine...but looking at the torque curve of the OHV 2.3..and the fact i like to cruise around 65-70 and not be crankin' 3000rpm, I'd like to find out the feasibility of two mods to start...

• swap the 4.10 gear-set for 3.55 (should net me about 12% rpm drop and also if that (3.55 gearset) be found in a limited slip configuration

I considered the taller tire swap but she came with 235/16's already...and while I wish to lower my highway rpm....i don't really want it looking 'pimped out'..

 

[06RangerXLT]

id say keep your 4.10's and put some 31's on it. a 31" BFG AT would look great.

 

[backroad101]

pics??

 

[Mark_88]

Welcome to TRS~!

Sounds like the truck I wanted, but I couldn't get the ext cab with the 4 banger...probably a good thing since I wouldn't have been able to afford it...enjoy!

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Either way if you change the gears or run bigger tires your gonna want to change the speedo gear in the tranny to keep johnny off your back.

 

[Heavyfire14]

Either way if you change the gears or run bigger tires your gonna want to change the speedo gear in the tranny to keep johnny off your back.

theres no speedo gear... its an electronic speedo

 

[Heavyfire14]

Thanks Earl...
The 4.10 gears do work fine...but looking at the torque curve of the OHV 2.3..and the fact i like to cruise around 65-70 and not be crankin' 3000rpm, I'd like to find out the feasibility of two mods to start...

• swap the 4.10 gear-set for 3.55 (should net me about 12% rpm drop and also if that (3.55 gearset) be found in a limited slip configuration

I considered the taller tire swap but she came with 235/16's already...and while I wish to lower my highway rpm....i don't really want it looking 'pimped out'..

its prolly a DOHC 2.3l 4 banger. i wouldnt go any higher than a 3.73 gear ratio on a 4 banger.

 

[jcd302]

As far as the jumps seats, you should be able to bolt in from any year Ranger/B-series. Not sure, but check to see if the correct holes are there, Ford is good about having the ability to add the factory options later. I added Fogs to my 94 using the factory wiring.

 

[helipilot]

The jump seats..

Well....it turns out there is 'bug' in FoMoCo's website...
When you order a 2.3 in base trim ...(which is done online at the dealer) there is an box that you may/maynot tik that says "Delete Jump Seats for $245 credit"

I, wanting the jump seats and not the $245 credit instructed the salesman to leave it un-ticked.

Which he did...(as I have a print-out of the original build order)

So the truck arrives without the jump seats

I refuse to accept the vehicle as is...and find out that on the base 4cyl ...the jump seats are not included...

Well..why in the hell did you ask me if I wanted them deleted then? No where on the "Build your Ranger" is there a note about the no Jump Seats on a 4cyl ....no where..! The dealer searched and searched for an 'out' ...there was none.

So we were at a bit of stand-off. I agreed this was not the dealer's fault, but that of FoMoCo and their web design people but I was not prepared to take on Ford through a 1-800 customer help line!

Finally after two weeks of haggling..we agreed that the dealer would locate a set of jumps from a late model Ranger from a wrecking yard and I would install them. This would save the dealer about 1200 and cost me nothing (other than an afternoon's labour)

They found a set for $200, in 'like -new' condition and now I can see the mounting holes are there...but not tapped! ...No problem, however...
Should have them installed in the next couple days!...

Looks like my base Ranger, 2.3L now WITH factory jump seats will be a bit of a 'one-off' ...

 

[press 1 for english]

The jump seats are dangerous to use and are worthless. Anyone who puts a youngster in a Ranger jump seat must care for their child very much.

 

[Mark_88]

I "bailed" my jump seats in favour of a 200 lb credit...they are just added weight and a discomfort to humans in general...but...it is your choice...

The new 2.3 puts out about 140 HP so you probably won't notice the added weight as much as my 2.3...

But I still can't figure out how you managed to get the 2.3 in an ext cab...the website would NOT let me do that...

 

[helipilot]

Well...appreciate the thoughts , minus those of "press 1 .." I don't think, sir, you are in a position to judge the degree to which I love my kids especially since I'd most likely be driving a much more expensive vehicle had I not spent tens of thousands of dollars securing custody of my kids...please refrain from such judgements.

With regard to the gear set, my old B2300 revs 2100 @ 60mph and my new ranger (with 35 more hp) revs at 2650 @ 60mph....so I think going with the 3.55 set from a 4.10 will place me in proximity of my old 'beater' ...and the occasional downshift only serves to keep me awake on those long drives anyways!

The seats are needed for the occasional foray to school, guitar lessons etc...mostly around town but thats all I'll add about my need for them....but suffice to say...I do.

 

[Andy D]

Another noob here. I have a 94 long cab with a 5 spd and 4x4 and 4.0 . I wanted a Tacoma 4x4 4 cyl, 5spd. Pre '95 so I dont have to keep up with emissions. Dream on, So, I widened my parameters. I couldnt find anything less than 3K$ on Craigslist. Except for this 94 Ranger for 600$ with a bad clutch. . So, far it has exceeded my expectations. I am not a Ford guy. But this little wreck has a soul. I cant wait til after the new year , when I will replace the clutch.